05/06/2025 | Writer: Oğulcan Özgenç
Living in the Netherlands with temporary worker status, Başaran was evicted from company-provided housing. She applied to the Westland Municipality for her right to housing, but her requests went unanswered.
Photo: Fatoş Sarıkaya / csgorselarsiv.org
For about two and a half years, trans woman Göksu Başaran has been living in the Netherlands as a temporary worker. After parting ways with the company she worked for, she now faces the loss of her right to housing.
Başaran was informed that she had to vacate the company-assigned house within just a week and a half. Due to intense and demanding working conditions, she neither had the time to learn the language nor to meet her basic needs. In her applications to the Westland Municipality, she stated that she had nowhere to stay, no access to social support networks, and that she did not feel safe in crowded and shared living spaces due to her trans identity and migrant status.
The municipality, which describes itself as a “rainbow municipality,” left Başaran’s requests unanswered.
Göksu Başaran
“I was left alone throughout the process”
Başaran says, “I was registered with the municipality, but since I didn't speak the language, I was left alone throughout the process. I was constantly redirected, but in the end, I only got the response: ‘We can’t find a house’,” recounting the systemic discrimination she has faced due to her migrant and trans identities:“There are social housing options supported by municipalities, but I wasn’t offered any concrete support in terms of housing. Since I closely follow legal procedures, I know that the municipality must provide a written rejection. But I didn’t get a response to that either. Despite sending constant emails, they didn’t take me seriously. I wanted to organize a peaceful protest to make the injustice I faced visible. The municipality sent a message saying ‘permission granted’ just one hour before the protest. But such permission isn’t even needed; this is my constitutional right. I had planned a silent protest, just holding a placard. I postponed it due to health reasons and informed them of the new dates. Still, no official response came.”
"Trans woman and worker. WESTLAND: There’s housing for flowers, but not for people? Housing is a right, not a privilege."
“Finding housing as a migrant and trans person is nearly impossible”
Noting that the housing crisis is being experienced deeply, Başaran stated:“Especially for migrants and trans people, finding housing is nearly impossible. They ask €800 for tiny rooms. Under these conditions, I cannot access my right to housing. While I was working in the Netherlands, I paid taxes from my salary, I paid taxes for my car. The company owes me compensation, and I even pay taxes on that. While I fulfill everything officially, why do I experience so many difficulties regarding such a basic right as housing? As a trans woman, am I supposed to live on the street?”
“They’re ignoring me”
Stressing that she currently cannot access municipal services and is being ignored, Başaran said:“I can’t benefit from municipal services. They’re ignoring me. But I will fight for this right. I sent emails to NGOs, to local and national media. But the Dutch media mostly sides with the system, because companies pay high taxes, and the press prefers to protect them.”
“It feels like every door is being shut in my face”
Explaining that the inability to access her right to housing has worn her down both psychologically and physically, Başaran said:“This process has worn me down both mentally and physically. I can’t leave the house, I can’t eat properly. I spoke to my family doctor and requested psychological support because I feel completely exhausted. It feels like every door is being shut in my face. I also believe I’ve been clearly subjected to discrimination regarding my trans identity. Despite stating in every correspondence that I am a trans woman, most of the time I didn’t even get a response. Through the municipality’s WhatsApp number, they only give directions, but no one follows up afterwards. They’re trying to silence and intimidate me, but I will not accept that.”
“Trans migrants in the Netherlands face serious discrimination”
Başaran emphasized that trans migrants in the Netherlands are exposed to multiple forms of discrimination and added:“Trans migrants in the Netherlands, just like me, face multiple forms of discrimination. That’s why I plan to establish an NGO or labor platform for both trans and migrant LGBTI+ people. This initiative will not be limited to my personal effort alone. I intend to devote all my time and energy to this. I aim to support not only those coming from Turkey, but also LGBTI+ individuals from EU countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, and Poland. No matter which country someone comes from, we will stand in solidarity.”
Tags: human rights, women
